Militancy in J&K - 41,000 lives lost since 1990; casualties increased under Modi Govt: Report

Army officer martyred. BSF jawan slained. CRPF personnel killed. J&K Police soldier lost life. Militant shot down. Terrorist encountered. Civilian caught in the crossfire. Villager burnt with the house in the bombing.  

Headlines that hog permanent spots on your newsfeed or newspaper front page amount to a staggering 41,000 lives lost in past 27 years in Jammu and Kashmir's battle against militancy. 

According to government data accessed and processed by Hindustan Times, at least 14,000 civilians, 5,000 security personnel and 22,000 militants have been killed between 1990 and March 2017. 

The figure translates to an average of 4 deaths per day in the state or 1519 casualties every year, according to the latest available government data quoted by the media house.

Latest casualty in J&K: One militant killed in ongoing Uri encounter

The data reveals that there have been 69,820 militancy-related incidents during the period - 2586 militancy incidents every year, with surges in casualties during 1993-1997, 1999-2003 and 2014-2017 periods. 

First peak in casualties: 1993-1997 

Between 1993 and 1997, 6522 militants were eliminated in Jammu and Kashmir, while 4910 civilians and 1012 security personnel lost their lives. That amounts to average 982 civilian deaths per year. And this was the only second most tumultuous phase in the state post 1990. 

Second peak in casualties: 1999-2003

Militancy had reached its peak during the previous BJP-led NDA government when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, the report said. From 1999 to 2003, 7820 militants, 2055 security personnel and 4519 civilians were killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per the data, 2001 has been reportedly the most volatile year and saw the killing of the highest number of militants and security forces. While 2020 militants were gunned down, 536 security personnel 996 civilians were also killed in the year that registered the highest number of 4522 militancy related incidents as well.

But in terms of civilian casualties, 2002 has been the worst with 1008 deaths. Besides 1707 militants, 453 security personnel were also killed that year, the newspaper said.

The decline in militancy: 2004-2014

The data says, that the militancy declined steadily from 2004 onwards till 2014 with a sharp decrease in the number of killings.
In 2013, there were only 170 militancy-related incidents in the strife-torn state in which 67 militants, 15 civilians and 53 security personnel were killed.

Read | Rahul Gandhi in US: Divisive politics threatening peace, tolerance in India

Resurgence under current NDA government

Although not on the same scale as in the 1990s or early 2000s, militancy-related incidents have been increasing after 2014, the HT report said. 

The data analysed by the paper says that from 2014 to March this year, there have been 795 militancy-related incidents in which 397 militants were killed while 64 civilians and 178 security personnel lost their lives.

Compared to 222 incidents in 2014, there were 322 incidents in 2016. In 2014, 28 civilians and 47 security personnel and 110 militants were killed in these incidents. In 2016, these numbers were 15, 82 and 150.

Who to blame 

Cross-border terrorism: 

The successive Indian Governments have blamed the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for insurgency and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. The issue has remained the key point of contention between the two nations. 

In the recent spar, the two neighbours ripped through each other coined terms like 'Terroristan' and 'Mother of Terrorism'. Pakistani PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called out India for supporting terrorism in Pakistan and demanded a referendum to settle the dispute over the Kashmir region. 

In response, India lambasted Pakistan and termed it 'global terror exporter'. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in her UNGA address, said India has produced professionals through IITs, IIMs, AIIMs and Pakistan has produced terrorists through JeM and LeT.

Read | Sushma Swaraj at UNGA: India produced scholars, scientists, Pakistan created terrorists 

Union Government 

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, in his recent address at UC Berkely, claimed that UPA regime had broken the back of terrorism in the northern state, but current Modi Government brought it back. 

When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism. By 2013, we basically broke the back of terror, he said.

He blamed PM Modi for 'massively opening up the space for the terrorists in Kashmir' and allowing the resurgence of terrorism. 

On the other hand, the Modi cabinet claims to be working day and night to eliminate terrorism from the Valley. The defence minister has authorised the Indian army to carry out an extensive Cordon and Search Operation to weed out militancy. 

Read | BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi, says absence of peace in Kashmir was cumulative of Congress misrule